Al-Manshiyah carnival in AlUla offers winter fun for families
Open-air festival combines heritage, live entertainment, and hands-on activities for all ages
ALULA, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — Families in AlUla are invited to celebrate the winter season at the Al-Manshiyah Plaza Winter Carnival, part of the Winter at Tantora festival running until January 10.
The open-air event features games, mini parades, live music, and interactive workshops, including hat-making and wool crafts, alongside stalls selling handmade goods from local vendors.
The carnival operates on weekends from 6 p.m. to midnight, blending AlUla’s historic charm with contemporary entertainment.
Visitors can enjoy hot drinks and seasonal treats, as well as food and beverage offerings from local vendors, while taking in the plaza’s heritage surroundings.
Yorgo Saade, a Lebanese national and manager of Lapain Coffee & Bakery, said the festival has become a popular gathering spot. “This is a great carnival.
All the families come here for amusement because there is a clown, entertainment, music, and everything. There’s a lot of seating areas,” he told Arab News, noting the wide variety of winter beverages on offer, including hot chocolate and French hazelnut drinks.
The event is set against Al-Manshiyah Plaza’s historically significant backdrop, adjacent to an abandoned early 20th-century train station that was once part of the Hejaz Railway, connecting AlUla to regional trade and pilgrimage routes.
While the railway marked the city’s first exposure to large-scale industrial transport, the plaza later became a social and administrative hub, hosting schools, markets, and community gatherings.
Today, the carnival revitalizes this historic space, providing families with evening entertainment while preserving the area’s cultural significance. Visitors can enjoy performances, workshops, and food corners throughout the evening.
The carnival is free to enter, wheelchair accessible, and offers free parking, though children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Saade added, “There are a lot of children and this is an ancient area. It’s new and old — with food,” emphasizing the combination of heritage and modern festivities that make the carnival a unique experience for families in AlUla.
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